Container assembly for flowable matertals

ABSTRACT

A container assembly for flowable materials, the container assembly comprising: a reusable outer supporting container; and a disposable inner plastic liner; wherein the reusable outer supporting container comprises an outlet pipe comprising a first outlet pipe section connected to the reusable outer supporting container and a second outlet pipe section releasably connectable to the first outlet pipe section, wherein the second outlet pipe section comprises a valve for selectively closing off the second outlet pipe section, and wherein at least one of the first outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section comprises an annular recess; and wherein the disposable inner plastic liner comprises a tubular outlet portion, wherein the tubular outlet portion comprises an outer flange configured to be captured between the first outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section, and further wherein the outer flange of the tubular outlet portion comprises an annular protrusion configured to be received in the annular recess when the outer flange is captured between the first outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section.

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of pending prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/442,242, filed Jun. 14, 2019 by CDF Corporationfor CONTAINER ASSEMBLY FOR FLOWABLE MATERIALS, which patent applicationin turn claims benefit of prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 62/685,695, filed Jun. 15, 2018 by CDF Corporation and JosephSullivan et al. for CONTAINER ASSEMBLY FOR FLOWABLE MATERIALS.

The two (2) above-identified patent applications are hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers in general, and more particularlyto containers for flowable materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many situations it may be necessary and/or desirable to packageflowable materials (e.g., liquids, pulverized solids, etc.) inindividual containers. And in many situations it may be desirable tore-use the containers (or at least some part of the containers) afterthe flowable materials have been discharged from the containers. And inmany situations, cleaning the container after discharge of the flowablematerials may be expensive, time-consuming and/or inconvenient.

To this end, container assemblies have been developed which comprise areusable outer supporting container and a disposable inner plasticliner. The reusable outer supporting container typically has a removabletop cover for allowing the disposable inner plastic liner to be insertedinto the interior of the reusable outer supporting container. And thereusable outer supporting container typically has an outlet pipe on itslower end for receiving a tubular outlet portion of the disposable innerplastic liner, with the outlet pipe having a valve disposed therein forselectively closing off flow through the outlet pipe.

On account of the foregoing construction, the disposable inner plasticliner can be positioned within the interior of the reusable outersupporting container, with the tubular outlet portion of the disposableinner plastic liner being disposed in the outlet pipe of the reusableouter supporting container; the valve in the outlet pipe can be closedoff; and the disposable inner plastic liner can be filled with theflowable material, with the reusable outer supporting containerproviding support for the weight of the flowable material containedwithin the disposable inner plastic liner. The flowable material canthen be maintained within the container assembly, e.g., for storageand/or shipping. When the flowable material is to thereafter be removedfrom the container assembly, the valve in the outlet pipe of thereusable outer supporting container is opened and the flowable materialis dispensed out of the container assembly. Thereafter, the disposableinner plastic liner can be stripped out of the reusable outer supportingcontainer, a new disposable inner plastic liner can be positioned withinthe interior of the reusable outer supporting container, and then freshflowable material can be flowed into the disposable inner plastic liner.

In practice, the aforementioned outlet pipe of the reusable outersupporting container is typically formed in two pieces: a first outletpipe section permanently affixed to the reusable outer supportingcontainer, and a second outlet pipe section containing theaforementioned valve, with the first outlet pipe section beingreleasably connected to the second outlet pipe section with a clamp. Inthis way the second outlet pipe section, containing the aforementionedvalve, can be easily disconnected from the first outlet pipe section(and hence can be easily disconnected from the reusable outer supportingcontainer) for cleaning and/or replacement purposes. And in practice,the aforementioned tubular outlet portion of the disposable innerplastic liner typically has a flange on its outer end which is capturedbetween the first outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe sectionwhen the second outlet pipe section is clamped to the first outlet pipesection. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,485, issued Nov. 17, 1992to Sotralentz S. A. and Francis Hermann for CONTAINER ASSEMBLY FORFLOWABLE MATERIALS, which patent is hereby incorporated herein byreference. And in practice, an O-ring is typically disposed between theclamped first outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section inorder to ensure a good seal.

Unfortunately, this arrangement, and particularly the handling of theO-ring during clamping of the second outlet pipe section to the firstoutlet pipe section, and during unclamping of the second outlet pipesection from the first outlet pipe section, has proven to be cumbersomeand inconvenient.

Therefore a new approach is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises the provision and use of a novelcontainer assembly for flowable materials which improves upon the priorart.

In one form of the invention, there is provided a container assembly forflowable materials, the container assembly comprising:

-   -   a reusable outer supporting container; and    -   a disposable inner plastic liner;    -   wherein the reusable outer supporting container comprises an        outlet pipe comprising a first outlet pipe section connected to        the reusable outer supporting container and a second outlet pipe        section releasably connectable to the first outlet pipe section,        wherein the second outlet pipe section comprises a valve for        selectively closing off the second outlet pipe section, and        wherein at least one of the first outlet pipe section and the        second outlet pipe section comprises an annular recess; and    -   wherein the disposable inner plastic liner comprises a tubular        outlet portion, wherein the tubular outlet portion comprises an        outer flange configured to be captured between the first outlet        pipe section and the second outlet pipe section, and further        wherein the outer flange of the tubular outlet portion comprises        an annular protrusion configured to be received in the annular        recess when the outer flange is captured between the first        outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section.

In another form of the invention, there is provided a method for storingand releasing flowable materials, the method comprising:

providing a container assembly comprising:

-   -   a reusable outer supporting container; and    -   a disposable inner plastic liner;    -   wherein the reusable outer supporting container comprises an        outlet pipe comprising a first outlet pipe section connected to        the reusable outer supporting container and a second outlet pipe        section releasably connectable to the first outlet pipe section,        wherein the second outlet pipe section comprises a valve for        selectively closing off the second outlet pipe section, and        wherein at least one of the first outlet pipe section and the        second outlet pipe section comprises an annular recess; and    -   wherein the disposable inner plastic liner comprises a tubular        outlet portion, wherein the tubular outlet portion comprises an        outer flange configured to be captured between the first outlet        pipe section and the second outlet pipe section, and further        wherein the outer flange of the tubular outlet portion comprises        an annular protrusion configured to be received in the annular        recess when the outer flange is captured between the first        outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section;

positioning the disposable inner plastic liner within the reusable outersupporting container, with the tubular outlet portion of the disposableinner plastic liner being disposed within the outlet pipe so that theouter flange of the tubular outlet portion is captured between the firstoutlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section, and with theannular protrusion of the disposable inner plastic liner being receivedin the annular recess of the outlet pipe;

loading flowable material into the disposable inner plastic liner whilethe valve of the outlet pipe is closed; and

releasing the flowable material from the disposable inner plastic linerby opening the valve of the outlet pipe.

In another form of the invention, there is provided a disposable innerplastic liner for disposition within a reusable outer supportingcontainer of a container assembly for flowable materials, wherein thereusable outer supporting container comprises an outlet pipe comprisinga first outlet pipe section connected to the reusable outer supportingcontainer and a second outlet pipe section releasably connectable to thefirst outlet pipe section, wherein the second outlet pipe sectioncomprises a valve for selectively closing off the second outlet pipesection, and wherein at least one of the first outlet pipe section andthe second outlet pipe section comprises an annular recess, thedisposable inner plastic liner comprising:

a tubular outlet portion, wherein the tubular outlet portion comprisesan outer flange configured to be captured between the first outlet pipesection and the second outlet pipe section, and further wherein theouter flange of the tubular outlet portion comprises an annularprotrusion configured to be received in the annular recess when theouter flange is captured between the first outlet pipe section and thesecond outlet pipe section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention will bemore fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which is tobe considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein likenumbers refer to like parts, and further wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a container assembly formed in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the container assembly ofFIG. 1 , showing the tubular outlet portion of the disposable innerplastic liner protruding from the first outlet pipe section of thereusable outer supporting container;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the disposable inner plastic liner;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing details of the construction of thedisposable inner plastic liner, including the tubular outlet portion ofthe disposable inner plastic liner;

FIGS. 5-7 are schematic views showing details of the tubular outletportion of the disposable inner plastic liner;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the outer flange of the disposableinner plastic liner clamped between the first outlet pipe section of theoutlet pipe of the reusable outer supporting container and the secondoutlet pipe section of the outlet pipe of the reusable outer supportingcontainer (with one or more clamps being shown in schematic form); and

FIGS. 9-11 are schematic views showing a vacuum fitting which may beremovably received in an opening in the reusable outer supportingcontainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the present invention, and looking now at FIGS. 1-8 ,there is provided a novel container assembly 5 which comprises areusable outer supporting container 10 and a disposable inner plasticliner 15. Reusable outer supporting container 10 has a removable topcover 20 for allowing disposable inner plastic liner 15 to be insertedinto the interior of reusable outer supporting container 10. Reusableouter supporting container 10 has an outlet pipe 25 on its lower end forreceiving a tubular outlet portion 30 of disposable inner plastic liner15, with outlet pipe 25 having a valve (see below) disposed therein forselectively closing off flow through outlet pipe 25.

More particularly, outlet pipe 25 of reusable outer supporting container10 comprises a first outlet pipe section 35 permanently affixed toreusable outer supporting container 10, and a second outlet pipe section40 containing a valve 45, with first outlet pipe section 35 beingreleasably connected to second outlet pipe section 40 with a removableclamp 47 (shown in schematic form in FIGS. 1 and 8 ) of the sort wellknown in the art. In this way, second outlet pipe section 40, containingthe aforementioned valve 45, can be easily disconnected from firstoutlet pipe section 35 (and hence can be easily disconnected fromreusable outer supporting container 10) for cleaning and/or replacementpurposes.

In accordance with the present invention, first outlet pipe section 35comprises a flange 50 having a hemispherical recess 55 formed therein,and second outlet pipe section 40 comprises a flange 60 having ahemispherical recess 65 formed therein.

Disposable inner plastic liner 15 has an overall configuration selectedto match the interior geometry of reusable outer supporting container10, and comprises the aforementioned tubular outlet portion 30. In onepreferred form of the invention, disposable inner plastic liner 15comprises a hole 67 formed in the side wall of the disposable innerplastic liner, and tubular outlet portion 30 is formed by an independentmember 70 which extends through hole 67 and is connected to disposableinner plastic liner 15 during manufacture. More particularly, in onepreferred form of the invention, tubular outlet portion 30 comprises anintermediate tubular portion 75 having an inner flange 80 formed on oneend and an outer flange 85 formed on its other end. Significantly, outerflange 85 comprises an inner hemispherical ring 90 and an outerhemispherical ring 95.

During assembly of disposable inner plastic liner 15, intermediatetubular portion 75 extends through hole 67 of disposable inner plasticliner 15, with inner flange 80 being positioned within disposable innerplastic liner 15 and being sealingly secured to the side wall thereof.

And during assembly of container assembly 5, intermediate tubularportion 75 of tubular outlet portion 30 of disposable inner plasticliner 15 is disposed within first outlet pipe section 35 of reusableouter supporting container 10; outer flange 85 of tubular outlet portion30 is secured against flange 50 of first outlet pipe section 35, withinner hemispherical ring 90 of outer flange 85 disposed in hemisphericalrecess 55 of flange 50; and outer hemispherical ring 95 of outer flange85 is seated in hemispherical recess 65 of flange 60 when second outletpipe section 40 is clamped to first outlet pipe section 35. Thisarrangement provides a convenient and easy-to-use, yet highly effective,seal between first outlet pipe section 35 and second outlet pipe section40.

On account of the foregoing construction, disposable inner plastic liner15 can be positioned within the interior of reusable outer supportingcontainer 10, with tubular outlet portion 30 of the disposable innerplastic liner being disposed in first outlet pipe section 35 of reusableouter supporting container 10, and with outer flange 85 of tubularoutlet portion 30 being secured against flange 50 of first outlet pipesection 35, and with inner hemispherical ring 90 of outer flange 85disposed in hemispherical recess 55 of flange 50. In addition, secondoutlet pipe section 40 can be clamped to first outlet pipe section 35,with outer hemispherical ring 95 of outer flange 85 being seated inhemispherical recess 65 of flange 60. As a result of this construction,first outlet pipe section 35 and second outlet pipe section 40 arefluidically sealed together so as to form the complete outlet pipe 25,with outlet pipe 25 being selectively closable via valve 45.

When novel container assembly 5 is to be used, valve 45 in outlet pipe25 is closed off, and disposable inner plastic liner 15 is filled withthe flowable material, with reusable outer supporting container 10providing support for the weight of the flowable material containedwithin the disposable inner plastic liner. The flowable material canthen be maintained within novel container assembly 5, e.g., for storageand/or shipping. When the flowable material is to thereafter be removedfrom novel container assembly 5, valve 45 in outlet pipe 25 is openedand the flowable material is dispensed out of the container assembly.Thereafter, disposable inner plastic liner 15 can be stripped out ofreusable outer supporting container 10, a new disposable inner plasticliner 15 can be positioned within the interior of reusable outersupporting container 10, and fresh flowable material can be flowed intothe disposable inner plastic liner.

In addition to the foregoing, in order to facilitate installingdisposable inner plastic liner 15 within the interior of reusable outersupporting container 10, it can be helpful to evacuate the air betweendisposable inner plastic liner 15 and reusable outer supportingcontainer 10. To this end, and looking now at FIGS. 9-11 , reusableouter supporting container 10 preferably comprises an opening 100 whichreceives a vacuum fitting 105 therein. Vacuum fitting 105 preferablycomprises an inner end 110, an outer end 115, and a lumen 120 extendingtherebetween. Inner end 110 of vacuum fitting 105 comprises baffles 125just inboard of an inner end surface 130. Outer end 115 of vacuumfitting 105 comprises screw threads 135. As a result of thisconstruction, when vacuum fitting 105 is disposed in opening 100, and avacuum source is thereafter connected to vacuum fitting 105 via screwthreads 135, suction can be provided at the inner end of vacuum fitting105, whereby to pull disposable inner plastic liner 15 against theinterior wall of reusable outer supporting container 10. Significantly,if inner plastic liner 15 should obstruct the inner entrance of lumen120, air flow will still be maintained through the vacuum fitting viabaffles 125.

Modifications of the Preferred Embodiments

It should be understood that many additional changes in the details,materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been hereindescribed and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the presentinvention, may be made by those skilled in the art while still remainingwithin the principles and scope of the invention.

By way of example but not limitation, hemispherical recess 55 and innerhemispherical ring 90, and/or hemispherical recess 65 and outerhemispherical ring 95, can have different cross-sectionalconfigurations. By way of example but not limitation, hemisphericalrecess 55 and inner hemispherical ring 90, and/or hemispherical recess65 and outer hemispherical ring 95, can have non-hemisphericalconfigurations, e.g., square configurations, rectangular configurations,elliptical configurations, etc. Or hemispherical recess 55 and innerhemispherical ring 90, and/or hemispherical recess 65 and outerhemispherical ring 95, can have combinations of hemispherical andnon-hemispherical configurations, provided, however, that thecross-sectional configurations of hemispherical recess 55 and innerhemispherical ring 90 are coordinated with one another, and thecross-sectional configurations of hemispherical recess 65 and outerhemispherical ring 95 are coordinated with one another.

Furthermore, second outlet pipe section 40 of outlet pipe 25 of reusableouter supporting container 10 may be releasably secured to first outletpipe section 35 of outlet pipe 25 of reusable outer supporting container10 using a means other than a releasable clamp, e.g., second outlet pipesection 40 may be releasably secured to first outlet pipe section 35using a lock nut, a screw collar, etc.

These and other changes are considered to be within the scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container assembly for flowable materials, thecontainer assembly comprising: a reusable outer supporting container;and a disposable inner plastic liner; wherein the reusable outersupporting container comprises: an outlet pipe comprising a first outletpipe section connected to the reusable outer supporting container and asecond outlet pipe section releasably connectable to the first outletpipe section, wherein the second outlet pipe section comprises a valvefor selectively closing off the second outlet pipe section, and whereinat least one of the first outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipesection comprises an annular recess; and an opening and a vacuum fittingremovably disposed within the opening, wherein the vacuum fittingcomprises an inner end, an outer end and a lumen extending therebetween,and further wherein the vacuum fitting comprises at least one baffledisposed between the inner end and the outer end; wherein the disposableinner plastic liner comprises a tubular outlet portion, wherein thetubular outlet portion comprises an outer flange configured to becaptured between the first outlet pipe section and the second outletpipe section, and further wherein the outer flange of the tubular outletportion comprises an annular protrusion configured to be received in theannular recess when the outer flange is captured between the firstoutlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section; and wherein thevacuum fitting of the reusable outer supporting container is disposedwithin the opening of the reusable outer supporting member such thatwhen suction is provided through the vacuum fitting, the disposableinner plastic liner is pulled against an interior wall of the reusableouter supporting container.
 2. Container assembly according to claim 1wherein the annular recess comprises a hemispherical recess and theannular protrusion comprises a hemispherical ring.
 3. A containerassembly according to claim 1 wherein the first outlet pipe section andthe second outlet pipe section both comprise annular recesses, andfurther wherein the outer flange of the tubular outlet portion comprisesan annular protrusion on each side of the outer flange.
 4. A containerassembly according to claim 3 wherein each of the annular recessescomprises a hemispherical recess and each of the annular protrusionscomprises a hemispherical ring.
 5. A container assembly according toclaim 1 wherein the first outlet pipe section comprises a flange and thesecond outlet pipe section comprises a flange, wherein the outer flangeof the tubular outlet portion is configured to be captured between theflange of the first outlet pipe section and the flange of the secondoutlet pipe section, and further wherein at least one of the flange ofthe first outlet pipe section and the flange of the second outlet pipesection comprises the annular recess.
 6. A container assembly accordingto claim 5 wherein the annular recess comprises a hemispherical recessand the annular protrusion comprises a hemispherical ring.
 7. Acontainer assembly according to claim 5 wherein the flange of the firstoutlet pipe section and the flange of the second outlet pipe sectionboth comprise annular recesses, and further wherein the outer flange ofthe tubular outlet portion comprises an annular protrusion on each sideof the outer flange.
 8. A container assembly according to claim 7wherein each of the annular recesses comprises a hemispherical recessand each of the annular protrusions comprises a hemispherical ring.
 9. Acontainer assembly according to claim 1 wherein the disposable innerplastic liner comprises a hole, wherein the tubular outlet portioncomprises an inner flange, and further wherein the inner flange isdisposed within the disposable inner plastic liner and sealingly securedthereto.
 10. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein theopening is threaded and the vacuum fitting is threaded.
 11. A containerassembly according to claim 1 wherein the reusable outer supportingcontainer comprises a removable top cover.
 12. A method for storing andreleasing flowable materials, the method comprising: providing acontainer assembly comprising: a reusable outer supporting container;and a disposable inner plastic liner; wherein the reusable outersupporting container comprises; an outlet pipe comprising a first outletpipe section connected to the reusable outer supporting container and asecond outlet pipe section releasably connectable to the first outletpipe section, wherein the second outlet pipe section comprises a valvefor selectively closing off the second outlet pipe section, and whereinat least one of the first outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipesection comprises an annular recess; and an opening and a vacuum fittingremovably disposed within the opening, wherein the vacuum fittingcomprises an inner end, an outer end and a lumen extending therebetween,and further wherein the vacuum fitting comprises at least one baffledisposed between the inner end and the outer end; wherein the disposableinner plastic liner comprises a tubular outlet portion, wherein thetubular outlet portion comprises an outer flange configured to becaptured between the first outlet pipe section and the second outletpipe section, and further wherein the outer flange of the tubular outletportion comprises an annular protrusion configured to be received in theannular recess when the outer flange is captured between the firstoutlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section; positioning thedisposable inner plastic liner within the reusable outer supportingcontainer, with the tubular outlet portion of the disposable innerplastic liner being disposed within the outlet pipe so that the outerflange of the tubular outlet portion is captured between the firstoutlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section, and with theannular protrusion of the disposable inner plastic liner being receivedin the annular recess of the outlet pipe; providing suction through thevacuum fitting to pull the disposable inner plastic liner against aninner wall of the reusable outer supporting container; loading flowablematerial into the disposable inner plastic liner while the valve of theoutlet pipe is closed; and releasing the flowable material from thedisposable inner plastic liner by opening the valve of the outlet pipe.